FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Texas Longhorns arrived in Fayetteville with hopes of making a statement against a top-tier SEC opponent, but instead left Baum-Walker Stadium humbled and searching for answers. The Arkansas Razorbacks completed a decisive three-game sweep of the Longhorns this weekend, outplaying Texas in nearly every phase of the game and underscoring the disparity between a team contending for national supremacy and one still struggling to establish its identity.
For Texas, the sweep serves as a harsh wake-up call. For Arkansas, it’s a signature moment in an already impressive season.
Friday’s series opener set the tone for the weekend. In a dramatic 10-inning contest, Arkansas edged Texas 6-5, overcoming a two-run deficit in the eighth inning before walking it off in extras.
Texas starter Ace Whitehead gave the Longhorns a fighting chance, tossing six solid innings and allowing just two runs. But the Texas bullpen faltered under pressure, allowing the Razorbacks to claw their way back into the game. Dylan Leach delivered the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th, sending the Baum-Walker faithful into a frenzy.
“We didn’t execute late,” Texas head coach David Pierce said. “We had opportunities to close it out, and we let it slip. Against a team like Arkansas, those mistakes will cost you every time.”
Saturday’s matchup featured a pitching clinic by Arkansas ace Hagen Smith, one of the nation’s premier arms. Smith struck out 13 Longhorns over seven innings of one-run ball, completely stifling a Texas offense that looked lost at the plate. The Razorbacks rolled to a 7-1 victory behind Smith’s dominance and timely hits from Jared Wegner and Peyton Holt.
Texas managed just four hits on the day, failing to capitalize on Smith’s rare mistakes. Their lone run came in the fourth inning, a solo home run by Eric Kennedy that briefly tied the game. But the Razorbacks responded immediately with a three-run outburst in the bottom half, fueled by Texas fielding miscues and aggressive base-running.
“Smith had us chasing and guessing,” said Texas designated hitter Porter Brown. “He commanded all his pitches and never gave us a rhythm. That’s one of the toughest pitchers we’ve seen this year.”
By Sunday, Texas looked physically and emotionally drained, and Arkansas pounced early. The Razorbacks tagged Longhorns starter Zane Morehouse for five runs in the first three innings, cruising to a 9-3 win and completing the sweep.
Arkansas’ lineup was relentless, notching 13 hits and capitalizing on every opportunity. Kendall Diggs and Caleb Cali each delivered multi-RBI performances, and the Razorbacks forced Texas to burn through five pitchers in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
Meanwhile, Arkansas starter Will McEntire turned in a workmanlike performance, scattering six hits over six innings and letting his offense do the heavy lifting.
“They jumped on us early and never let up,” Pierce said after the loss. “We were playing catch-up from the first inning and just didn’t have the energy or execution to mount a comeback.”
With the sweep, Arkansas improves to 33-7 on the season and solidifies its place atop the SEC West standings. The Razorbacks look every bit like a national title contender—boasting elite pitching, timely hitting, and home-field dominance.
Texas, meanwhile, drops to 26-15 and falls further behind in the Big 12 race. The Longhorns have now lost four of their last five games and look increasingly vulnerable on the mound and inconsistent at the plate.
Perhaps most troubling is the team’s inability to respond to adversity. In each game of the series, Texas held a lead or kept things close through the early innings, only to unravel in the latter stages. Poor defensive execution, spotty bullpen performances, and cold stretches at the plate have become alarming trends.
After leading Texas to the College World Series in 2021 and 2022, head coach David Pierce now finds himself in the crosshairs of a fanbase demanding consistency at a program with championship expectations. Though the Longhorns have shown flashes of potential this season—most notably with mid-season sweeps of TCU and Kansas State—this weekend’s collapse against Arkansas highlights the widening gap between Texas and the national elite.
“We’ve got to look in the mirror,” Pierce said after Sunday’s loss. “This group is capable, but we’re not playing clean baseball. That’s on me. That’s on our staff. And that’s on every guy in that clubhouse.”
The next few weeks will be critical for Pierce and the Longhorns as they attempt to right the ship before postseason play begins. With road trips to Oklahoma and Texas Tech looming, the margin for error has all but vanished.
Hagen Smith and Will McEntire showcased just how deep and dangerous the Razorbacks’ rotation can be. Smith’s performance was particularly eye-opening—a dominant mix of mid-90s heat and wicked off-speed stuff kept Texas hitters completely off balance.
With bullpen arms like Brady Tygart and Zack Morris anchoring the back end, Arkansas possesses the kind of pitching staff that wins championships.
The Longhorns’ bullpen woes were on full display. Relievers struggled with command and left too many pitches over the plate. The inability to close out Game 1 proved pivotal, and the blowouts that followed only magnified the concern.
If Texas is to make any noise in the Big 12 tournament or regional play, finding reliable late-inning options must be a top priority.
The Longhorns’ bats went silent when it mattered most. While the team has capable hitters—like Dylan Campbell, Jared Thomas, and Kennedy—there’s a lack of situational hitting and consistent contact against elite pitching. Texas struck out 32 times over the weekend and left 21 runners on base.
In contrast, Arkansas made the most of its chances, often manufacturing runs with smart base-running and well-timed hits.
The Longhorns return home to host UT Arlington in a midweek contest before heading back on the road to face the Oklahoma Sooners in a crucial Big 12 series. Time is running out for Texas to fix its issues, and their path to a favorable NCAA tournament seed is quickly narrowing.
For Arkansas, the sweep is another feather in the cap of a team that seems to be peaking at the right time. Head coach Dave Van Horn has his squad locked in, and the Razorbacks are not only chasing an SEC title—but possibly the program’s first national championship.
The Arkansas sweep of Texas served as a reminder that college baseball’s elite tier is a demanding, unforgiving place. The Razorbacks thrived under the pressure. The Longhorns wilted.
The question for Texas now is whether they can use this humbling experience as fuel—or whether it marks the beginning of a downward spiral.
Either way, the clock is ticking.
